Stories from 5 February 2007
Tajikistan: Toilet Training
Elizabeth explains toilet training in Tajikistan.
Costa Rica, Bolivia, Venezuela: Oscar Arias, Hugo Chavez, and Evo Morales
Katy of Caracas Chronicles translates a statement by Costa Rican President and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Oscar Arias criticizing Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's “democratic dictatorship.” Meanwhile, the Latin America and Caribbean blog of the Overseas Development Institute compares the leadership and policy making differences between Bolivian President Evo Morales and...
Arabisc: Morocco's Blind Declare War
In Morocco, a group of blind people are planning to stage a protest with a difference. Blogger Dar Lakbira says that they have decided to wear shrouds when they march on February 7 to demand more rights and support from social services to draw attention to their plight, which includes...
Mexico: Oaxaca update
Lots of blog postings centered on Oaxaca this morning including Boz's update on the anti-government protests that have persisted – albeit more calmly – throughout the winter. The Narco News Bulletin announces the new book by contributing writer Nancy Davies, who has covered the conflict from mid-June up until now....
Mexico: First Gay Civil Union
“Megan la Mala” on Mexico's first legal same-sex civil union in the state of Coahuila.
Iran:Iranian Female MP Supports the Bill to Reduce Female Student Numbers
Azarmehr writes that some Iranian MPs want to reduce female student numbers in universities.The blogger writes The percentage of female to male students for the university entrance exam is now 60/40 in favour of girls. He adds “Fatemeh Ajorloo, one of the few female MPs, is one of the supporters...
Armenia & Turkey: Hrant Dink Roundup
Oneworld Multimedia rounds up recent posts from Armenian and Turkish blogosphere about Hrant Dink
Kazakhstan: Nation-Branding
Sean Roberts wonders if one can speak of “pulling a Kazakhstan,” that is, performing successful but sloppy nation-branding. Registan.net has a related post discussing comments by a nation-branding specialist comparing Montreal to Kazakhstan, leading to a quite undiplomatic debate.
Kazakhstan: Culture & the Internet
KZblog discusses what about the internet is and is not useful to people in Kazakhstan.
Armenia: Insult to Dignity
Blogrel reports that officials in Armenia are incensed at a performance by a British dance artist who wrapped his nude body with the Armenian flag and danced on it. Officials are calling it an insult to Armenian national dignity and suggesting that the performance was criminal. Harmick, the author of...
India: Retired Husband
Heartcrossings on the retired husband syndrome. “The women had always been aware of the mental distance and the loss of emotional closeness with their husbands but it turns out the men were too busy being workaholic to notice anything was missing. Like the article says, they can't imagine their 24/7...
Afghanistan: Dog Fighting
Kabul Diary reports from the scene of an extremely popular sport in Afghanistan, dog fighting.
Bangladesh: Anita Rau Badami
black and gray with another interview. This time with Anita Rau Badami. How can one not read it when the first questions asks “Why is satire, feminine and at times strangely seductive, so important to you or your work?”
Bangladesh: When the powerful are arrested
Rezwan on what it means when the powerful and rich in a country finally get arrested, and why transparency must be maintained. “It is said that the ill-equipped and staffed judiciary always favor the wealthy and the influentials. So arresting big names like ex ministers, political leaders and VIPs are...
Nepal: Journalists, online media and newspapers
Even as United We Blog! has a post on journalists getting beaten up “Unruly activists had beaten journalists in Tankisinawari yesterday while collecting news about a peaceful rally. “, Nepali Voices points out that those who were online could have easily gotten ahead of the newspapers. “We concluded online media...
Laos: Stir Fry Water Lily
Food enthusiast Manivan Larprom has the recipe and video instructions for cooking the Thai/Lao dish of stir fried water lily.
Indonesia: Delay in Official Relief Efforts
Unspun wonders what kept the trade minister from organising relief for the people affected by the floods in Jakarta. “Four days after the massive floods begin, nearly 200,000 made homeles, huge logistics problems regarding food and water distribution and the Minister is finally holding a meeting to get information? Did...
East Timor: UN Environment Report and East Timor
Diligence looks at recycling, pollution and rise in sea level from the point of view of East Timor. “The locals at the lower end of the income scale find themselves unable to contribute much to CO2 footprints. While the well-heeled foreigner probably is at the other slothful end most of...
Brunei: Stamps from Brunei
The Daily Brunei Resources has a post on the history of postage stamps in Brunei.
Hindi Blogoshere: From freedom of speech to blog theft!
Time again for yet another update on the happenings of the Hindi Blogosphere. And this time we will start with something different, outer space for example. Ashish tells us about smaller sons of Sun, the asteroids & the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Ashish elaborates further on the origin...
Soviet History: A Syllabus
J. Otto Pohl has posted an “imaginary” syllabus for the Introduction to the History of the Soviet Union class. Here's why he is doing this: “Since I have never taught any courses all of the syllabi I have submitted for job applications along with my CV are purely imaginary. That...
